Just when we thought Bret Michaels‘ celebrity status couldn’t possibly get any brighter, we hear that he is under consideration as a replacement for Simon Cowell on American Idol. Dare we suggest that it is an absolutely brilliant idea.
FOX entertainment chairman Peter Rice said, “We have to find a judge to replace Simon who provides both musical credibility and incredible entertainment value.”
Michaels may owe a great deal of his new found success to Donald Trump. Those who took in this season’s Celebrity Apprentice reality show on NBC saw that the rocker seemed destined for the boot, right out of the starting block. However, he gained momentum with each and every task, showing such talent and creativity that most of us jumped squarely on the Bret Michaels bandwagon and never got back off.
Couple that with his humility and strength during multiple medical setbacks that nearly cost him his life. Not only did we realize that we really, really liked this guy, but we admired his determination in the face of extreme adversity.
Bret was a surprise guest on the American Idol Finale, rocking to “Every Rose Has It’s Thorn” with third place finisher Casey James. To say the crowd was delighted is a major understatement. Check out that amazing performance here.
When asked about the possibility of Bret as his replacement, Simon said: “Actually, he’d be good. He’s funny. He’s got experience. He’d be a good choice – and you saw the audience reaction to him. They love him.”
What does Bret have to say about this? He sounds like a man who is ready to sign on the dotted line. Michaels said: “I’m sorry he has to go but sometimes things happen. Provided my health holds up, I think I’m taking that chair next year!”
American Idol definitely needs a major shot in the arm to keep it viable in the future, after a ratings slump this year. We’ve heard the show’s producers will be revamping the results night format by cutting it to just 30 minutes. Toward the end of the season they will tack that extra half hour onto performance night, making that a 90 minute event. Not a bad idea, since the show has had overruns on multiple occasions, much to the dismay of TiVo users.
There is a growing list of contenders to replace Cowell. They include: Harry Connick Jr., Antonio “L.A.” Reid, Shania Twain, Piers Morgan, Howard Stern, Tommy Mottola, Sean Diddy Combs, Steve Lillywhite, Sir Elton John, and Perez Hilton.
Of this group, we thought Harry did an incredible job as a mentor during Frank Sinatra Week. If our man Bret should fall by the wayside in the selection process, the crooner would be our next top pick.
Who do you see as a viable replacement for Simon? Do let us know.
More photos below:
See ‘Simon Cowell’s Women’ on AI Red Carpet here.
Photos: WENN